Renting a robot for $25 a day: the future of automation is already here

Purchasing an advanced robot requires an investment comparable to that of a luxury car, making this technology an exclusive for large corporations. However, a new reality born in Shanghai at the end of December 2025 aims to change things toward total democratization: it is Qingtian Rent, the world’s first platform dedicated to robot rental.

With an initial starting cost of around $25 per day, the company aims to transform complex and expensive machines into accessible and easy-to-use services, marking the beginning of a new era for the field of business-focused robotics.

Qingtian Rent wants to democratize automation, and the idea is popular with investors and users

The immediate success of Qingtian Rent is evidenced by numbers describing explosive demand: in just three weeks since launch, over 200.000 utenti have registered on the platform, with daily orders that consistently exceed 200 units. The interest has not gone unnoticed by investors, enabling the company to raise tens of millions of dollars in funding, with participation from major funds.

The company will use these funds to expand nationwide, implementing a standardized service system that includes insurance and trained operators.

Currently, robot usage is driven mainly by the marketing and the food service sectors. Chinese brands such as Haidilao, Mixue Ice Cream and Meiyijia use the robots to attract customers through dance performances and other activities capable of generating viral moments on social media. The boom has also been boosted by the popularity of humanoid robots at large public events in China, which lowered rental prices, making them appealing even for small businesses.

While in Europe, the United States and Japan robot rental often remains confined to specialized niches or long-term industrial contexts, China is accelerating thanks to a platform-oriented mindset and strong government support, transforming robotics into a mass experience.

The future of mass robotics

As production costs continue to fall, the Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model will shift from pure entertainment toward more operational sectors such as logistics, tourism, factories and warehouses. The idea is to create a national network of services where companies can request robotic assistance with the same ease with which today one books a ride or a home-delivery meal.

The Qingtian Rent initiative represents a fundamental turning point for integrating robots into working realities. By lowering financial entry barriers, rental also enables small entities to experiment with the benefits of automation without the risks tied to a definitive purchase.

That said, it’s worth noting that the current phase is dominated by the showy and promotional aspect. However, the foundations laid by this model suggest that in the future robots will become ubiquitous commercial collaborators — starting in China.